
10% Happier with Dan Harris
1,037 episodes — Page 5 of 21
Ep 939Meditate on the Breath (Without Driving Yourself Nuts) | Bonus Meditation with Joseph Goldstein
bonusYou don't have to focus too maniacally on your breath; your body is part of the process, too. Our good buddy Joseph Goldstein shows you how to balance. Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts. He is the author of many books including, most recently, Dreamscapes of the Mind. This meditation is part of a new series on the Eightfold Path. The rest of the series is available on Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you'll get a 30-day free trial—and you'll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Ep 938Status: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How To Get It Without Driving Yourself Crazy | Will Storr
Plus more surprising information on this fundamental human drive. Will Storr is a multi award-winning writer and Sunday Times bestselling author. His latest book is A Story is a Deal: How to use the science of storytelling to lead, motivate and persuade. Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you'll get a 30-day free trial—and you'll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. In this episode we talk about: The key elements of a properly deployed story The different ways to measure status The three main ways humans compete for status The benefits of altruism as a source of status The balance between self interest and altruism How mindfulness factors into the status drive Managing our relationships with social media Related Episodes: Why You Can't Pay Attention - And How to Think Deeply Again | Johann Hari Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes
Ep 937Stoic Advice for Handling Setbacks, Insults, and Death | William Irvine
How to boost your psychological immune system, the stoic way. William "Bill" Irvine is the emeritus professor of philosophy at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He is the author of eight books that have been translated into more than twenty languages, including Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy and Stoic Challenge: A Philosopher's Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More Resilient. Bill is one of many great teachers featured on Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you'll get a 30-day free trial—and you'll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. In this episode we talk about: How Bill was first introduced to Stoicism (the story involves a midlife crisis and a banjo.) The comparison between Stoicism and Buddhism Psychological strategies for attaining equanimity The practice of negative visualization Stoic approaches to handling anger and insults How to reframe setbacks as tests Stoicism VS emotional suppression Tools for navigating the challenges of our digital age What Stoics say about pursuing fame and status And why death is the "ultimate exam" Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources: Links to Bill's Waking Up content Links to Bill's books
Ep 936Alisyn Camerota On: Surviving the News, Surviving the Teenage Years, and the Concept of Home
From punk rock to broadcast journalism. A veteran journalist shares her story. Alisyn Camerota is an award-winning journalist and author. She recently wrote the memoir, Combat Love: A Story of Leaving, Longing, and Searching for Home. In this episode we talk about: Our mutual dislike of covering breaking news How her turbulent teenage years helped her prepare for life's chaos What "home" actually means How her childhood informed her own parenting style The delicate balance between giving your children too little or too much freedom What it means for a journalist to center themself in a story Surviving the news Coping with anxiety and media consumption And much more Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources: Alisyn Camerota on Substack Sanity Podcast
Ep 935How To Deal With Difficult Emotions, Difficult Feedback, and Difficult Parts of Your Own Mind | Diane Musho Hamilton
Cross-training for your mind. Diane Musho Hamilton is an author, award-winning mediator, and teacher of Zen. She is the author of three books on conflict resolution, relationships, and communication. Her latest book is Waking Up and Growing Up: Spiritual Cross-training for an Evolving World, co-authored with Gabriel Wilson. Diane is one of many great teachers featured on Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you'll get a 30-day free trial—and you'll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. In this episode we talk about: What Diane means by spiritual cross training and waking up Cultivating emotional maturity Foundations of Zen practice Integrating shadow and psyche The key aspects of living with purpose The value of intention setting Ethical action and community Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: Dan's panic attack on live TV
Ep 934Sam Harris On: Equanimity in Turbulent Times; Compassion for Difficult People; And Dualistic vs Non-dualistic Mindfulness
An old friend (and my spiritual brother) discusses some of the most important things he's ever learned. Sam Harris is a neuroscientist, author, podcaster and the proprietor of Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you'll get a 30-day free trial—and you'll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. In this episode we talk about: How to maintain equanimity in shitty situations How to have compassion – or at least non-hatred – for people you disagree with politically The illusion of free will and its relationship with compassion The difference between dualistic and non-dualistic mindfulness The concept of having no head Why meditating with your eyes open can be super helpful And much more Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources: On Having No Head
Ep 933Can You Be Kind Without Becoming Boring And/Or Weak? | A Question From "Mean Aunt Kate"
bonusWe're going to give you a taste of the so-called "renegade sangha" sessions on DanHarris.com, which is powered by Substack. In those sessions, Dan usually guides a meditation and then takes questions. In this brief episode, you're going to hear one of the best, funniest, most relatable questions we have received to date. Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes
Ep 932Buddhist Themes in The White Lotus, Explained | Josh Bearman
Dan deconstructs the Dharmic elements of the popular HBO show, with the co-host of The White Lotus Official Season 3 companion podcast. Joshuah Bearman is a writer and film producer in Los Angeles. He has written for Wired, GQ, Harper's, Rolling Stone, and contributed to This American Life. Along with Jia Tolentino, Josh is the co-host of the The White Lotus Official Podcast. In this episode we talk about: How Josh became interested in Buddhism How Mike White, the writer and creator of The White Lotus, became interested in Buddhism Buddhist concepts and themes all three seasons of The White Lotus Buddhist notions of self and identity Some paradoxes and pitfalls of Buddhism The perils of pleasure seeking Craving certainty as a bulwark against anxiety The importance of repetition of simple Buddhist ideas that we are programmed to forget The Buddhist concept of attachment The three jewels of Buddhism and the importance of relationships Related Episodes: Natasha Rothwell (White Lotus, How To Die Alone) On: Loneliness, Envy, People Pleasing, And Finding Your "Hell Yes" Michael Imperioli (From The Sopranos and White Lotus) Knows a Shitload About Buddhist Meditation Holding it Together When Things Fall Apart | Pema Chödrön Pema Chödrön, Renowned Buddhist Nun, On Her One Non-Negotiable Happiness Strategy Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources: The White Lotus Official Podcast
Ep 931I Want an Awakening Experience. How Do I Get It? | Henry Shukman
They say enlightenment is always an accident. Here's how to make yourself more accident-prone. Henry Shukman is a poet, author and Zen master in the Sanbo Zen lineage. He is founder of the Original Love meditation program, spiritual director emeritus at Mountain Cloud Zen Center and co-founder of the single-path meditation app The Way. His most recent books are Original Love: The Four Inns on the Path of Awakening and the Zen memoir One Blade of Grass. In this episode we talk about: Henry's awakening moment The meaning of the term "inn" We walk through the four inns We talk about loving your obstacles Whether finding a meditation teacher matters What koans are, and how they can enhance your practice Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: Henry's meditation app, The Way Henry's latest book, Original Love Henry's website
Ep 930How To Be Sanely Productive | Oliver Burkeman
The liberation that comes from realizing that you're never going to get everything done. Oliver Burkeman is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Four Thousand Weeks, The Antidote, and most recently, Meditations for Mortals. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Psychologies and New Philosopher. He has a devoted following for his writing on productivity, mortality, the power of limits, and building a meaningful life in an age of bewilderment. Oliver is one of many great teachers featured on Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you'll get a 30-day free trial—and you'll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. In this episode we talk about: What the term "imperfectionism" means The illusion of reaching a point where "everything's done" Why there's liberation in seeing how finite we are Why small, imperfect actions are more valuable than perfect plans Why overplanning is a kind of avoidance How to make decisions The importance of finishing things Who you should develop a taste for problems Why effort doesn't always equal value Why we need to stop protecting other people's feelings And the paradox of mattering immensely and not at all Related Episodes: The Power of Negative Thinking Time Management for Mortals Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Ep 929Are You Letting Politics Make You Bitter Or Better? A Psychological Survival Conversation With CNN's Van Jones
bonusRecorded in January 2025 during the week of the Presidential inauguration, this conversation with CNN commentator Van Jones is less about politics and more about how we react to politics. You'll hear the questions that Van always asks himself before he goes on air, what he considers to be his purpose on earth, and how he thinks about the future. This conversation was part of a special Inauguration Week series which featured daily gatherings of the "Renegade Sangha," as Dan calls it, including guided meditations led by Dan, and interviews with thinkers to help us make sense of the moment. To join future live sessions, become a paid subscriber at DanHarris.com. You'll also get cheatsheets and transcripts for every episode, plus access to a community of other folks who take this stuff seriously. Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Ep 928How To Suffer Less: Joseph Goldstein, Sam Harris, and Dan Harris on the Buddha's Eightfold Path
One of the foundational Buddhist lists—a kind of GPS for enlightenment. Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts. He is the author of many books including, most recently, Dreamscapes of the Mind. Sam Harris is a neuroscientist, author, podcaster and the proprietor of the Waking Up app. This episode is the first installment of a new series on the Eightfold Path. The rest of the series is available on Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you'll get a 30-day free trial—and you'll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. In this episode we talk about: The Eightfold Path, your GPS to enlightenment Generosity The importance of faith The wisdom of "I don't know" mind Various kinds of right view Unpacking right view on the Buddhist path Practical tips for cultivating right view Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes
Ep 927How To Handle Your Demons | Richard Schwartz
Make peace with the difficult parts of your personality. Dr. Richard Schwartz is a contemporary psychotherapist, PhD in marriage and family therapy. He founded the Internal Family Systems Model (IFS) therapy system and has authored many books, most recently: The Internal Family Systems Workbook. In this episode we talk about: What Internal Family Systems (IFS) is The relationship between buddhism and IFS How to make peace with our parts without a therapist in the room Dan volunteers as a guinea pig to show what it's like to work with your parts The definition of love The link between IFS and psychedelics Related Episodes: How (and Why) to Hug Your Inner Dragons | Richard Schwartz How to Get Out of Your Head | Willa Blythe Baker Kryptonite for the Inner Critic | Kristin Neff Self-Compassion Ain't Always Soft | Kristin Neff The Voice in Your Head | Ethan Kross The Science Of Burnout — And How To Recharge From Stress | Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer The Science of Emotion Regulation: How It Impacts Health, Performance, and Relationships. | Ethan Kross Lessons From the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness | Dr. Robert Waldinger The Art of Growing Up, Jerry Colonna The Art and Science of the World's Gooiest Cliche | Barbara Fredrickson Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: The Internal Family Systems Workbook is part of the new Sounds True Inner Workbooks series, which currently includes The Nervous System Workbook by Deb Dana and The Healing Anxiety Workbook by Sheryl Lisa Finn, with more titles planned.
Ep 926A Guided Meditation To Get You Out Of Your Head | Bonus Meditation with Dan
bonusA 10-minute meditation that reminds you that you're not just a brain: there is also a body. This meditation was originally part of one of Dan's recent Ask Me Anything sessions on Substack – join us as a paid subscriber at DanHarris.com to be a part of these live online events as Dan guides a short meditation then takes your questions. Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Ep 925How to Suffer Well – So You Can Suffer Less | Brother Pháp Dung
Brother Pháp Dung discusses the life and teachings of Vietnamese Zen master, peace activist, poet, and author Thich Nhat Hanh. In January 2022, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Zen master, peace activist, poet, and author passed away. He was the founder of the International Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called him "an Apostle of peace and nonviolence" when nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Thousands of people came out for his funeral. Brother Pháp Dung is making his second appearance on the show to talk about Thich Nhat Hanh. If you missed it last time he was on, Brother Pháp Dung has an incredible personal story. He was born in Vietnam in 1969 and came to the US at the age of nine. He worked as an architect/designer for four years before becoming a monk. He was very close personally with Thich Nhat Hanh, who he refers to as "Thây," or teacher, and is now a Dharma teacher himself in Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village tradition. This episode was first published in March 2022. This episode explores: The life of Thich Nhat Hanh: his path to Buddhism in the 1960's and his exile from Vietnam for opposing the war. The meaning of "wrong view" or wrong perception. What non-separation and inter-being is. Thich Nhat Hanh's view that birth and death are only notions. Grief, and why learning how to suffer will help you suffer less.
Ep 924A Radical Question To Put Your Problems Into Perspective | Annaka Harris
How to think about consciousness without breaking your brain. Annaka Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind and writer and producer of the audio documentary series, LIGHTS ON. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Nautilus Magazine, the Journal of Consciousness Studies, and IAI Magazine, and she is also an editor and consultant for science writers, specializing in neuroscience and physics. In this episode we talk about: What consciousness is—and why we should care about it The question of whether or not consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe (so literally—is consciousness embedded in the chair I'm sitting in?) Why thinking about this mystery can create a sense of awe (a reliable antidote to suffering) Meditation techniques for exploring consciousness The illusion of the self The importance of challenging our intuitions And much more Related Episodes: The Fundamental Mystery of the Mind | Annaka Harris Susan Kaiser Greenland and Annaka Harris, Teaching Mindfulness to Kids #469. A Mystery That Matters | Anil Seth Pulitzer Prize-Winning Novelist Jennifer Egan On: Panic, Awe, Fetishizing Authenticity, and Our Possible AI Futures Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: wakingup.com/tenpercent LIGHTS ON The Candy House The Case Against Reality On Having No Head: Zen and the Rediscovery of the Obvious Ten Zen Questions: Susan Blackmore
Ep 923Are You Spending Your Life on Things You Actually Enjoy and Care About? | Jonathan Fields
And how to figure out what matters most to you. Jonathan Fields is the author of several books, including SPARKED: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work That Makes You Come Alive. He is also the host of two podcasts, Good Life Project® and SPARKED™. This episode is part of our ongoing Sanely Ambitious series. In this episode we talk about: What a "sparketype" is and how to use it to help your guide your life and make work decisions Embracing uncertainty Meditation and attention training for uncertainty The role of community in navigating uncertainty How to make exercise meaningful Sign up for Dan's weekly newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: Sanely Ambitious
Ep 922Jordan Harbinger On: How To Succeed at Work; How to Network Without Being Gross; And How Not To Succumb To Hustle Culture
Career advice from a man who has walked the walk. Jordan Harbinger is a Wall Street lawyer turned podcast interviewer with an approachable style and knack for securing high-profile guests. His podcast, The Jordan Harbinger Show, was selected as part of Apple's "Best of 2018." This episode is part of our ongoing Sanely Ambitious series. In this episode we talk about: How to engage in networking without being gross. He has lots of interesting techniques here, including something called Gmail roulette He also has a cardinal rule that I found compelling We also talk about: The ripple effect of generosity How to ask for a raise The strategic value of asking for advice How to deal with a bad boss How to persuade and negotiate And the many problems with hustle culture Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: Sanely Ambitious
Ep 921You Should Be Taking More Risks. Here's How To Get Over Your Fear And Do It. | Sue Ashford
How to reduce perfectionism and boost confidence so you can be more effective in every area of your life. Susan (Sue) Ashford is an award-winning scholar and Professor at the University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Her passion for helping people to be maximally effective in their work lives has driven her teaching and research work on self-management, proactivity, change from below, and leadership and its development. This episode is part of our ongoing Sanely Ambitious series. In this episode we talk about: The concept of "flexing" The pernicious role of fear and anxiety The crucial difference between a performance mindset and a learning mindset Practical tools for changing your mindset What it means to unleash your inner scientist The importance of getting feedback (and why some people struggle asking for it) The concept of re-storying (reframing negative perspectives) Why we should savor successes How to be interpersonally successful And much more Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: The Power of Flexing Ari Weinzweig Reboot by Jerry Colonna Ego Free Leadership
Ep 920What's It Like To Be You Right Now? | Bonus Meditation with Dan
bonusThis one's simple and easy -- and features some of Dan's favorite instructions from Joseph Goldstein. This meditation was originally part of one of Dan's recent Ask Me Anything sessions on Substack – join us as a paid subscriber at DanHarris.com to be a part of these live online events as Dan guides a short meditation then takes your questions.
Ep 919How To Get Past Your Past | Yung Pueblo
Lessons learned from 12 years of serious meditation. Diego Perez is a meditator and #1 New York Times bestselling author who is widely known by his pen name, Yung Pueblo. His writing focuses on the power of self-healing, creating healthy relationships, and the wisdom that comes when we truly work on knowing ourselves. In this episode we talk about: How to burn off your mind's conditioning The suffering that comes from clinging in a world characterized by relentless change What selfless listening is, and how to do it The liberation that comes from equanimity Some of the incredibly valuable lessons he's learned from 12 years of meditation How to make better decisions for your future self How to have boundless compassion without being a pushover Why being able to see perspectives outside of your own is a sign of intelligence and mental strength And much more Related Episodes: Jack Kornfield & Yung Pueblo On: How To Meditate When You're Freaking Out, the Limits of the Thinking Mind, & Balancing Self-Interest with Compassion The Dharma of Instagram Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: How To Love Better The Inward Trilogy Yung Pueblo on Substack Yung Pueblo on Instagram Insight Meditation Society Dhamma.org
Ep 918Stress Reduction: 5 Free, Quick, Science-Backed Strategies | Dr. Aditi Nerurkar
A Harvard doctor on how she went from stress patient to stress expert. Dr. Aditi Nerurkar is a Harvard stress expert, and the author of The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body For Less Stress and More Resilience. In this episode we talk about: Healthy stress vs. unhealthy stress The distinction between stress and burnout What Dr. Nerurkar calls "toxic resilience" Finding quiet in a noisy world The relationship between scrolling and sleeping The gut-brain connection Key breathing exercises Dealing with your inner critic How to avoid what she calls "revenge nighttime procrastination" Exercises to help you get into your "future self" The rule of two strategy And much more Related Episodes: Jon Kabat-Zinn, Creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Stress Better, Modupe Akinola How to Thrive Under Stress | Elizabeth Stanley, PhD The Science Of Journaling: How Writing Reduces Overthinking, Rumination, And Anxiety | Dr. James Pennebaker (Co-Interviewed By Dr. Bianca Harris) Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: Aditi on Substack
Ep 917How To Be Sanely Ambitious | Behind the Scenes with Dan and DJ
bonusDan and executive producer DJ Cashmere talk about how we're putting "sanely ambitious" into action on our team; plus, an important update on how to listen to the podcast ad-free. In this episode we talk about: How rest and productivity are two sides of the same coin What psychological safety looks like on a small, creative team Having a "parking lot" for great ideas that we aren't ready to do Other ways we're navigating some big changes in our business Related episodes: Work Less, Get More Done | Alex Soojong Kim-Pang Digital Minimalism | Cal Newport Help, Work Sucks | Cal Newport How to Be Productive Without Burning Out | Cal Newport BIG NEWS: Paid subscribers can now listen to the 10% Happier podcast ad-free by going to podcast.danharris.com! If you're not a paid subscriber, you will be prompted to sign up there. It's another one of our perks for our paid subscribers, including transcripts and cheat sheets for every episode, plus live guided meditations and Q&A sessions with Dan. Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Ep 916How To Make Your Relationships Exceptional | Carole Robin and David Bradford
Secrets from the massively popular Stanford business school course on interpersonal hygiene. Carole Robin and David Bradford taught the most popular elective course at the Stanford Graduate School of Business for a combined total of 75 years. Officially, the name of the course is Interpersonal Dynamics, but everybody calls it "Touchy-Feely." Together they have written the new book, Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues. We dive into the six hallmarks of what they call "exceptional relationships," how to be honest and vulnerable without overdoing it, why the questions "how am I feeling?" and "how are you feeling?" are central to improving our communication, the inevitability of risk when you set out to deepen a relationship, and why meditation is helpful in all of this. This episode originally aired in 2021. Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: Brené Brown https://connectandrelate.com/

Ep 915How To Know Whether You're an Introvert or an Extrovert—and Why That Matters | Susan Cain
Why knowing your tendency can improve your life. Susan Cain is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, and Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole. Her Kindred Letters newsletter is read by people in all 193 countries and all 50 American states. Join her at TheQuietLife.net. In this episode we talk about: How to know if you're an introvert or extrovert The strengths of introversion – and how these can you no matter where you are on the introvert / extrovert spectrum Techniques to improve your relationships and work life How to design your life around where you do your best – including figuring out your true goals The perks of exposing ourselves to the things we fear the most The paradox of anxiety and shyness And why introverts and extraverts often get along so well—something Susan calls "introvert/extrovert synergy" Related Episodes: What Is Sadness Good For? | Susan Cain Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: The Quiet Life with Susan Cain | Substack

Ep 913The Mind-Bending Science of Advanced Meditation | Matthew Sacchet
What it is, how beginners can get a taste, the dangers of striving, and whether tech can make it easier. Dr. Matthew D. Sacchet, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Meditation Research Program at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General). Since 2012, he has authored more than 120 publications, presented more than 150 times at international, national, regional and local conferences and speaker series, and been cited more than 8,000 times. In this episode we talk about: What Matthew's learning about advanced states of meditation, and what they do to the brain What relevance advanced meditation might have for the rest of us How we might get a taste of these states ourselves Whether technology might ultimately help some of us advance more quickly The psychological risks of practicing deep end meditation Related Episodes: Dr. Richie Davidson, Daniel Goleman – Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain and Body Nirvana | Joseph Goldstein A Meditator in the Arena | Sam Harris Willoughby Britton, Jared Lindahl -- Does Meditation Have a Dark Side Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: Meditation Research Program at Harvard Matthew Sacchet on X (Twitter) Matthew Sacchet's LinkedIn

Ep 912Should You Be Taking Psychedelics? The Benefits, the Risks, and the Science. | Jay Michaelson
Featuring a meditation teacher, author, professor, and dedicated experimenter with these molecules. Jay Michaelson is a journalist, meditation teacher, rabbi, and professor of religious studies whose work for the last several years has been focused on psychedelics, meditation, and spirituality. Jay is a field scholar at Emory University's Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality, and a fellow at Harvard Law School's project on Psychedelic Use, Law, and Spiritual Experience. He is currently a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, teaching courses on psychedelics, law, and religion. In this episode we talk about: Everything you should know about psychedelics if you're wondering whether to give them a try What the research shows thus far The differences among various compounds The overlap between meditation and psychedelics The difference between spirituality and healing The dizzying question of whether these medicines have a separate consciousness And more Related Episodes: Psychedelics and Meditation | Michael Pollan - by DB - Dan Harris What to do About Eco-Anxiety | Jay Michaelson Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: Both/And with Jay Michaelson A special guided meditation from Jay to accompany this episode Two free upcoming events: Emory Science on Spiritual Health Conference (free, online) Harvard Symposium on Psychedelics in Monotheistic Traditions (which Jay co-chairing)

Ep 911How To Survive the News. CNN's Bill Weir on Moving From Anger and Despair to Optimism and Resiliency.
A node of sanity in these challenging times. Bill Weir is America's leading climate reporter. His new book is a celebration of our planet and human brilliance. It is a hopeful plea for communities to rally around nature, new ideas and each other, to create the kind of resilience that lasts generations. In this episode we talk about: How a hotter earth is increasingly changing our lives Why some experts say the climate issue is half physics, half psychology How to work with feelings like rage and despair Why so many of us look away from the climate crisis Why acceptance is not surrender And the utility of class psychological frameworks, including Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Elisabeth Kübler-Ross' Five Stages of Grief Related Episodes: What to do About Eco-Anxiety | Jay Michaelson Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: Order Life as We Know It (Can Be)

Ep 910Joseph Goldstein On: Impermanence, Impersonality, And How To Use Mindfulness To Be More Creative
One of my favorite episodes that we've recorded in a long while. Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts. He is the author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening, A Heart Full of Peace, One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism, Insight Meditation and The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation. Joseph has studied and practiced meditation since 1967 under the guidance of eminent teachers from India, Burma, and Tibet and he leads Insight Meditation retreats around the world. This year, IMS printed a collection of Joseph's poetry, titled Dreamscapes of the Mind: Poems and Reflections. The book includes 21 poems and almost a dozen short verses. We have made copies available for a suggested donation of $12 to support IMS's Retreat Center scholarship fund (shipping to U.S. addresses only). For a copy of Joseph's book, visit give.dharma.org/JGpoetry In this episode we talk about: Impermanence, impersonality, and the vast spaciousness of the mind Mortality How we can use mindfulness to be more creative Joseph reads one of his favorite poems (and a couple others) Thoughts on how to approach death What Joseph means by dreamscape of the mind Deep Dharma topics like Nirvana, rebirth, taking refuge and more Related Episodes: Joseph Goldstein + Mark Epstein On: How To Handle Unwanted Experiences, How Not To Waste Your Suffering & The Overlap Between Buddhism + Therapy I Just Did A 10-Day Silent Meditation Retreat With Joseph Goldstein. Here's What I Learned Dr. Mark Epstein On: How To Transform Your Neuroses Into "Little Shmoos" Nirvana | Joseph Goldstein Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Additional Resources: For a copy of Joseph's book, visit give.dharma.org/JGpoetry

Ep 909The Neuroscience of Confidence | Ian Robertson
What confidence does to your brain, why it helps with anxiety, and how to get it if you don't already have it. Plus, the problem with overconfidence. Ian Robertson is a Professor Emeritus in Psychology at Trinity College and was the founding director of Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience. He has written five books, the latest of which is called, How Confidence Works. In this episode we talk about: What confidence actually is How to boost confidence The dangers of overconfidence, and how to guard against it The role of anxiety and failure The "Oscar effect", and why winners tend to live longer How to reframe anxiety as excitement The role of gender, race, and class on confidence levels The importance of distancing yourself from confidence saboteurs And much more Related Episodes: A Buddhist Recipe For Confidence | Ethan Nichtern Do You Feel Like an Imposter? | Dr. Valerie Young (Co-Interviewed by Dan's Wife, Bianca!) Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Ep 906How To Make a Marriage Work | Chodo Robert Campbell and Koshin Paley Ellison (Co-Interviewed by Dr. Bianca Harris)
A candid, useful, and hilarious conversation. Chodo Robert Campbell Sensei is a Zen teacher, bereavement specialist, grief counselor and a recognized leader for those suffering with the complexities of death & dying, aging, and sobriety. The educational non-profit he co-founded, the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, touches thousands of lives every year through its numerous educational programs, contemplative retreats, and Soto Zen Buddhist practices. Chodo has been featured in the New York Times, PBS, CBS Sunday Morning and other media outlets. Koshin Paley Ellison is an author, Zen teacher, Jungian psychotherapist, leader in contemplative care, and co-founder of an educational non-profit called the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. His books, grounded in Buddhist wisdom and practice, have gained national attention. Through its numerous educational programs, contemplative retreats, and Soto Zen Buddhist practices, the New York Zen Center touches thousands of lives every year. Koshin has appeared on dozens of podcasts and his work has been featured in the New York Times, PBS, CBS Sunday Morning and other media outlets. In this episode we talk about: We get really real on the role of early childhood trauma and how that can show up in our relationships The importance of understanding your partner's operating manual and how to come up with rules of the road The role of humor in relationships—how it can be used to successfully name the difficult parts of our partner's personality—and how that can go wrong Why it's important to do your own work outside of your relationship—in therapy and meditation or whatever is useful to you And the value of learning to be uncomfortable… together Related Episodes: How (and Why) to Hug Your Inner Dragons | Richard Schwartz Escape From Zombieland | Koshin Paley Ellison The Surprising Power of "Healthy Embarrassment" | Koshin Paley Ellison The Art of Growing Up, Jerry Colonna Jerry Colonna, 'CEO Whisperer' and Reboot.io Founder - Dan Harris This Neurobiologist Wants You To Ask One Question To Reframe Anxiety, Depression, And Trauma | Dr. Bruce Perry (Co-Interviewed by Dan's Wife, Bianca!) The Anti-Diet | Evelyn Tribole Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Ep 905How Are You Contributing To What Is Not Working In Your Love Life? Hard Truths From Relationship Coach Jillian Turecki.
Why self-inquiry is the first ingredient to a healthy relationship. Jillian Turecki is a renowned relationship coach, teacher, author, and host of the podcast, Jillian On Love. Fueled by an insatiable curiosity about what makes a relationship thrive, Jillian has helped thousands over the last 20 years through her teachings, courses, and writing to revolutionize their relationship with themselves so that they transform their romantic relationships. In this episode we talk about: The difference between lust and love How to make the idea of self love more than an empty cliché How to be honest with your partner The myth of finding "the one" How to be your best self even after you've exited the honeymoon stage And why, if you want a successful relationship, you have to make peace with your parents Related Episodes: #510. Me, a Love Story: How Being OK With Yourself Makes You Better at Everything | Sharon Salzberg #464. How to Keep Friendships From Imploding | Esther Perel Esther Perel on the One Thing That Will Improve the Quality of Your Life Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Ep 903How Not To Torpedo Your Relationships | Dan Solo Episode
Data-driven, dharma-informed, Dan-tested strategies for improving relationships of all kinds. In this episode we talk about: The value of having platonic friends in addition to your spouse or partner A key communication skill that Dan picked up from the writer and researcher Brené Brown How humor can help your relationships – and how it can hurt A cognitive reframe from couples therapist Esther Perel How to manage conflict in a healthy way And one of Dan's favorite Saturday Night Live sketches: Man Park Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Ep 902The Science of Emotion Regulation: How It Impacts Health, Performance, and Relationships. | Ethan Kross
Practical strategies for managing our emotional lives. Dr. Ethan Kross, author of the international bestseller Chatter, is one of the world's leading experts on emotion regulation. An award-winning professor in the University of Michigan's top ranked Psychology Department and its Ross School of Business, he is the Director of the Emotion and Self-Control Laboratory. In this episode we talk about: What an emotion actually is The myth that we should only experience positive emotions Why sometimes avoidance is a smart strategy The six emotional "shifters" we can use to regulate our emotions The role of our senses How to use mental time travel to shift perspective And the role of our surroundings, relationships, and culture Related Episodes: #365 The Voice in Your Head | Ethan Kross The Neuroscience Of: Emotional Regulation, Relationships, Body Image, And Intuition | Emma Seppälä Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Ep 9019 Ways To Break Free From the Habits That Are Holding You Back | Dr. Rangan Chatterjee
How your reliance on being liked, being comfortable, and being perfect is blocking you from making the change you want. Dr. Rangan Chatterjee is one of the most influential doctors in the UK with over two decades of experience. He now hosts Europe's biggest health podcast, Feel Better, Live More, he is the author of 5 Sunday Times bestsellers, he regularly appears on BBC television, national radio and his TED talk, How To Make Disease Disappear, has almost 6 million views. In this episode we talk about: Why we have an overreliance on experts and perfection Barriers and solutions to long term change How to stop people pleasing (or become a "people pleaser in recovery") Tips for neutralizing emotional discomfort and stress The "life is an escalator" myth, and our relationship with complaining How to adapt to adversity without feeding our bad habits Escaping the trap of busyness And much more Related Episodes: Why Your Bad Habits (and Addictions) May Be Getting Worse - and How Mindfulness Can Help | Dr. Jud Brewer How To Actually Keep Your New Year's Resolutions | Dan Solo Episode Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Ep 899Buddhist Strategies For Reducing Everyday Addictions (To Your Phone, Food, Booze, And More) | Sister Dang Nghiem
A Buddhist doctor/nun on how we're all addicted to something—and how to reduce craving. Sister Dang Nghiem, MD, ("Sister D") was born in 1968 in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, the daughter of a Vietnamese mother and an American soldier. She lost her mother at the age of twelve and immigrated to the United States at the age of seventeen with her brother. Living in various foster homes, she learned English and went on to earn a medical degree from the University of California – San Francisco. After suffering further tragedy and loss, she quit her practice as a doctor to travel to Plum Village monastery in France founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, where she was ordained a nun in 2000, and given the name Dang Nghiem, which means adornment with nondiscrimination. She is the author of a memoir, Healing: A Woman's Journey from Doctor to Nun (2010), and Mindfulness as Medicine: A Story of Healing and Spirit (2015). This episode is part of our monthlong Do Life Better series. We talk about: Sister D's Buddhist version of the 12 step program, which is a combination of two canonical buddhist lists: the 4 Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path How willpower doesn't fit into the Buddhist path of understanding and working with addiction How to change addiction at its root Practical applications of mindfulness Self-compassion The importance of social support Her thoughts on our relationships to our phones And more Related Episodes: Do Life Better This Episode Will Make You Stronger | Sister Dang Nghiem The Science Of Manifestation | James Doty Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Ep 898Buddhist Neuroscientist On: How To Quit Bad Habits And Why You're Not Keeping Your Resolutions | Dr. Judson Brewer
How to use your innate mindfulness to turn the volume down, or even uproot, your everyday addictions. Dr. Judson Brewer is the Director of Research and Innovation at the Mindfulness Center and professor in Behavioral and Social Sciences and Psychiatry at the Schools of Public Health & Medicine at Brown University. He is the author of several books, including The Craving Mind, Unwinding Anxiety, and The Hunger Habit. This episode is part of our monthlong Do Life Better series. We talk about: Jud's definition of addiction The difference between the scientific view and the Buddhist view on addiction The buddhist concept of Dependent origination Dopamine and dopamine fasting A three gear plan for sticking to your resolutions Judson's disenchantment with the term "mindfulness" What we need to know about willpower The two types of stress – and its impact on our behavior What makes us resilient – and why it matters How community plays a role in making habit changes And finally, a friendly debate on whether there is such a thing as healthy anger? Related Episodes: Do Life Better Get Fit Sanely The Anti-Diet | Evelyn Tribole The Science of Why You Eat When You're Not Hungry–And How to Stop | Judson Brewer Modern Life Is Making You Sick, but It Doesn't Have To | Gabor Maté Why We're All Suffering from Racial Trauma (Even White People) -- and How to Handle It | Resmaa Menakem I Just Went Through A Career Earthquake: This Is What's Next. How to Break Your Anxiety Habit | Judson Brewer Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Full Shownotes: https://www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/judson-brewer-898 Additional Resources: MindShift Recovery

Ep 896The Psychology Of Success | Guy Raz
A podcast pioneer on failure, resilience, luck, work/life balance, and the power of questions. Guy Raz has been instrumental in creating some of the most iconic podcasts in the world, including Wondery's How I Built This, Wow in the World and TED Radio Hour. The New York Times has described him as "one of the most popular podcasters in history." This episode is part of our monthlong Do Life Better series. We talk about: The challenge–and gift–of failure Getting comfortable with discomfort and risk The notion of luck The balance between your relationships and your work Why scale isn't always the answer Success vs. happiness And much more Related Episodes: Do Life Better Sanely Ambitious #321 The Joy of Being Wrong | Adam Grant Rethinking Success | Mia Birdsong Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Full Shownotes: https://meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/guy-raz-896

Ep 895Buddhist Executive Coach On: Professional Anxiety, Workplace Conflict, And The Power Of Mindfulness | Nolitha Tsengiwe
How to be less stressed and more productive. Nolitha Tsengiwe, a Dharma teacher and board member at Dharmagiri Retreat Center, in South Africa. She is also a graduate of Insight Meditation Society teacher training. This episode is part of our monthlong Do Life Better series. In this episode we talk about: How to weave mindfulness into your day without requiring a big formal sit How to have healthy conflict in the workplace Our attempts to explain the ineffable And much more Related Episodes: Do Life Better Sanely Ambitious Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Full Shownotes: https://www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/nolitha-895 Additional Resources: Listen to Nolitha's talks on DharmaSeed

Ep 894The Science Of Burnout — And How To Recharge From Stress | Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer
Burnout is on the rise. Two experts show us how to combat it. Dr. Kristin Neff is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, conducting the first empirical studies on self-compassion more than twenty years ago. Christopher Germer is a clinical psychologist and lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He also co-developed a highly impactful program called Mindful Self-Compassion, which has been taught to over 100,000 people across the world. This episode is part of our monthlong Do Life Better series. We talk about: How to know if you are burnt out The three main symptoms of burnout, their causes, and their health consequences The three components of self-compassion and how they can help The inner critic and why we kick our own asses How to draw appropriate boundaries with your boss The difference between tender and fierce self-compassion Tools for dealing with perfectionism without letting go of high standards Related Episodes: Do Life Better Sanely Ambitious Kryptonite for the Inner Critic | Kristin Neff #360 Self-Compassion Ain't Always Soft | Kristin Neff #310 The Scientific Case for Self-Compassion | Chris Germer For the Burned Out, Fried, and Exhausted | Emily & Amelia Nagoski Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Full Shownotes: https://meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/neff-germer-894 Additional Resources: Self-compassion event with Kristin Neff & Dan Harris The Self-Compassion Test The Center for Mindful Self Compassion

Ep 892How To Be Less Anxious And Awkward About Money | Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren
A candid conversation about money: How much is enough? How to find real security? Sebene Selassie, an author and meditation teacher. She writes the popular newsletter Ancestors to Elements and her first book is called, You Belong. Jeff Warren is also an author and meditation teacher. He writes the popular Substack newsletter Home Base and is the coauthor, along with me, of a book called Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics. And he is the co-host of the mind/bod adventure pod. This episode is part of our monthlong Do Life Better series. We talk about: How much is enough The illusion of security The importance of being able to talk to your friends about this stuff The power of identifying your own money story, in other words, finding the point of origination for your own neuroses on the subject Related Episodes: Do Life Better How to Avoid the Toilet Vortex of Anxiety | Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren How to Stay Calm No Matter What's Happening | Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren Meditation Party: The "Sh*t Is Fertilizer" Edition | Sebene Selassie & Jeff Warren Meditation Party with Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren: Psychedelics, ADHD, Waking Up From Distraction, and Singing Without Being Self-Conscious Meditation Party: Magic, Mystery, Intuition, Tattoos, and Non-Efforting | Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Full Shownotes: https://www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/meditation-party-892 Additional Resources: Register for Meditation Party at Omega, October 24 - 26, 2025 Allison Strickland's GoFundMe

Ep 891Rewire Your Relationship With Money | Wendy De La Rosa
A Wharton professor shares practical tips on increasing your financial security, and eradicating the taboo around financial conversations. Dr. Wendy De La Rosa is an Assistant Professor at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She focuses on behavioral science to improve consumers' financial well-being. This episode is part of our monthlong Do Life Better series. We talk about: Psychological and technological tools for taking control of your finances How to get a handle on small frequent purchases The relationship between our environment and our finances Financial shame How our parents relationship with money impacts us as adults The G.I. Joe Fallacy, and the misconception that "knowing is half the battle" when it comes to our financial health 10 financial questions to ask your romantic partner How to eliminate the taboo of financial conversations And much more Related Episodes: Do Life Better 543. The Psychology of Money | Morgan Housel #402. How To Work Around Your Own Irrationality | Richard Thaler #345 How to Change Your Habits | Katy Milkman Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Full Shownotes: https://www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/de-la-rosa-891

Ep 889Rewire Your Relationship To Food | Brother Pháp Lưu
The science and dharma of mindful eating. How it can stop over eating—and how to actually make the habit. Brother Pháp Lưu is an ordained monk in the Plum Village tradition started by Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh. He's worked with scientists at Dartmouth College and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to develop research on the effect of Plum Village mindfulness practices on children. This episode is part of our monthlong Do Life Better series. We talk about: The health benefits of mindful eating The line between moderation and restriction The five contemplations before eating The basic steps of mindful eating How to ensure mindful eating doesn't feel like a chore or burden Fasting and our culture's dysregulated relationship to food Mindful consumption in general The four nutriments And much more Related Episodes: Do Life Better Get Fit Sanely The Anti-Diet | Evelyn Tribole The Science of Why You Eat When You're Not Hungry–And How to Stop | Judson Brewer Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Full Shownotes: https://www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/phap-luu-889

Ep 888The Neuroscience Of Exercise | Wendy Suzuki
What exercise does to your brain—and how to actually do it regularly. Wendy Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University, where she is also the first Asian-American Dean of the College of Arts and Science. She is the author of two books, Good Anxiety and Healthy Brain, Happy Life. This episode is part of our monthlong Do Life Better series. We talk about: How exercise not only enhances cognitive function but also protects against age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. The difference between cardio and strength training Whether it matters if you track your steps How to sustain your motivation to exercise And practical tips on how to start, restart or increase an exercise habit We also talk about the brain benefits of sleep, meditation, and healthy eating (with a detour into ways to counteract the potentially unhealthy obsession with being healthy) And finally, we talk about the counterintuitive benefits of anxiety Related Episodes: Do Life Better Get Fit Sanely Sleep Better The Anti-Diet | Evelyn Tribole Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Full Shownotes: https://www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/wendy-suzuki-888

Ep 886How To Actually Keep Your New Year's Resolutions | Dan Solo Episode
Dan briefly whittles down his top 10 takeaways from the science of behavior change. In this episode we talk about: How our brain's evolution for short-term survival makes long-term goals harder Picking the right goals Making it easy Leveraging fresh starts How to make goals a team sport The crucial role of mindfulness and self-compassion This episode is part of our monthlong Do Life Better series. Related Episodes: The Science of Making – And Keeping – New Year's Resolutions | Hal Hershfield How To Change Your Habits | Katy Milkman Why Your Bad Habits (And Addictions) May Be Getting Worse – And How Mindfulness Can Help | Dr. Jud Brewer Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Full Shownotes: www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/dan-solo-habit-formation Additional Resources: Download the Happier Meditation app today.

Ep 885A Radical Buddhist Approach To Making This The Best Year Of Your Life | Vinny Ferraro
Contemplating your own death can feel like a massive bummer at first, but there's good news: how you react to that inescapable fact really matters. Vinny Ferraro has practiced insight meditation (vipassanā) since the mid-90s. He's the Guiding Teacher of the Big Heart City Sangha in San Francisco and has led a weekly sitting group for almost two decades. As a fully empowered Dharma Teacher thru Spirit Rock/IMS, he has taught residential retreats at Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society, and the Esalen Institute. Currently, he leads Spirit Rock's Year to Live course and teaches retreats and daylongs through Big Heart City and meditation centers across the country. He is a respected leader in developing and implementing interventions for at-risk populations. leading groups in schools, juvenile halls and prisons since 1987. He has led emotional intelligence workshops for over 100,000 youth on four continents. In this episode we talk about: Why it's important to think about your own death even if you're not expecting it anytime soon The distinction between the actual conditions of your life and how much you suffer A practice called the five Daily Remembrances, which Dan started doing himself right after we recorded this — and which has made a real difference for him And some of other practices they do in the class, including the "life review" and "housekeeping" Related Episodes: Three Buddhist Practices For Getting Your Sh*t Together | Vinny Ferraro How Thinking About Death Can Improve Your Life | Alua Arthur Join the waiting list for A Year To Live at Spirit Rock. Find out more about the Young Adult Retreat at Spirit Rock (taught by Vinny Ferraro, Matthew Brensilver, Cara Lai, and Hakim Tafari). Use code TENPERCENT for 10% off these two courses at Spirit Rock: Anxiety as Teacher: A Dharma and Yoga Daylong Cultivating the Beautiful Factors of Mind Sign up for Dan's weekly newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes Full Shownotes: www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/vinny-ferraro-a-year-to-live Additional Resources: Download the Happier Meditation app today.

Ep 884How To End The War With Your Body | Sonya Renee Taylor
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- "Radical self-love" — what it is and how to do it. It is incredibly common for many of us humans, whatever our gender, to be at war with our bodies -- trying to live up to the people we see in the movies, on social media, or even the versions of ourselves in old pictures. This never-enough-ness can lead to an ambient level of self-loathing that can be incredibly destructive. That's where "radical self-love" comes in. Our guest today is Sonya Renee Taylor. She is the author of three books, including The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love. She is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not An Apology. She has come to this work as a result of her own personal pain, as a Black woman inhabiting a body that she says does not conform to societal norms. In this conversation, we talk about defining radical self-love (and why she believes it's our natural state), tools for cultivating radical self-love, and the connection between being OK with yourself and the larger society. Full Shownotes: www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/sonya-renee-taylor-rerun Additional Resources: Download the Happier Meditation app today.

Ep 882Sitting with Chaos | Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Very few of us relish chaos and disruption, but they are facts of life, given the nonnegotiable nature of change. In this episode with Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, we're going to talk about how to tune into the value of disruption, and learn how to sit with the chaos. Zenju Earthlyn Manuel is an ordained Zen priest, holds a Ph.D., and worked for decades as a social science researcher and development director for non-profit organizations. She is also a prolific author. In this conversation we'll explore: what to do with the unknown and not having any answers the power of a "sip of silence" (her term) what she means by the phrase "death as a doorway to tenderness" how she defines tenderness - a word that can easily get bogged down in sloppy sentimentality and what she meant when she wrote "I'm not advocating love as an answer to all of the ills of the world. Then again, it is just that simple to be love." Content Warning: There are brief mentions of assault; spiritual, sexual, and substance abuse; and racism, including an incident Zenju experienced herself. Full Shownotes: www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/zenju-earthlyn-manuel-rerun This episode was originally published in October 2021.

Ep 881How To Be Less Judgmental (Of Other People – and Yourself) | La Sarmiento
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Can mindfulness really pull you out of a spiral of self-judgment? Don't you need to be judgmental sometimes? What's the difference between being discerning and judgmental? Description: Meditation and mindfulness doesn't uproot your capacity to be judgmental, but it can help you see the value in being judgmental by learning how to work with the judging mind. La Sarmiento has been practicing Vipassana meditation since 1998. La is a mentor for the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, a teacher with Cloud Sangha, and a contributor to the Happier Meditation app. In this episode we talk about: How mindfulness can help us identify when we're being judgmental The difference between discernment and judgment How it can be so delicious to be judgmental of others – but why it's actually harmful to ourselves and others The four questions to ask when we notice ourselves going into judgment mode How to operationalize the phrase "am I suffering right now?" Investigating the motivations behind striving for success Why owning up to being a jerk is sometimes the exact right answer Full Shownotes: www.meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/la-sarmiento-rerun-2024 Where to find La Sarmiento online: Website: www.lasarmiento.com Additional Resources: Download the Happier Meditation app today.

Ep 880How To Be Okay No Matter What | Kamala Masters
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Equanimity: what it is, what it isn't, and how to get it. Guest Kamala Masters was one of the teachers at Dan's first ever meditation retreat. In this episode she dives into how to develop equanimity and shares her story of learning how to practice meditation during her everyday life while raising three children on her own. Kamala Masters has been meditating since the 1970s, first with Anagarika Munindra, who was Joseph Goldstein's first teacher, and then with the Burmese master Sayadaw U Pandita with whom she twice temporarily ordained as a Buddhist nun. More recently, she's been training with another Burmese master we've talked about here on the show, Sayadaw U Tejaniya. She is a Guiding Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society, and the co-founder of the Vipassana Metta Foundation, which developed the Maui Dharma Sanctuary. In this conversation we talk about: What is equanimity? The most common misconception about equanimity The near and far enemies of equanimity The power and limitations of setting intentions Full Shownotes: https://meditatehappier.com/podcast/tph/kamala-masters-rerun Where to find Kamala Masters online: Website: Vipassana Metta on Maui Additional Resources: Download the Happier Meditation app today.